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Chapter 5: Review
THE sudden encounter with another empire and the amicable talks that followed became the main topic of discussion for Takuto and the rest of Mynoghra’s empire-management council immediately after their banquet with Phon’kaven’s delegates ended.
“None of us expected our initial talks to accomplish so much in such a short period of time,” Atou started. “While this is wonderful news, we now have a lot of different factors and materials to take into consideration. You are in for some sleepless nights, Elder Moltar.”
“Gladly,” Elder Moltar responded. “Still, hmm, we need to select what Food to trade with and confirm what Supplies we want in return. Should we secure a mutual means of communication for future exchanges first…? Or perhaps it would be better to select which troops to send first.”
“Yes, taking what they said into consideration, they’re seeking urgent defense aid. Ensuring the Dragon Vein Mine’s safety is of critical importance to us as well. Drawing pure Mana directly from the earth will have a momentous impact on our development. Frankly speaking, our strategies going forward will greatly differ based on our ability to produce and collect Food and Resources.”
Atou was carefully examining their options with Mynoghra’s wisest mortal, Elder Moltar. Warrior Captain Gia and Emle, who had been promoted from Takuto’s secretary to Minister of Domestic Affairs, were also called to the meeting to exchange their frank opinions.
Ẁ ѐ b n̊.о v̀é l̄ Ё ṅ um̆ а
They’d actually been present for the negotiation talks, but since Takuto and Atou had everything under control, they didn’t muddy the waters. While there wasn’t really a need to explain what they had agreed upon, they did hastily enter into a deal and made rough arrangements with no time to discuss it among themselves, so they were now working out the details of their policies after the fact.
“Hrm,” Elder Moltar hummed. “The folks from Phon’kaven committed a huge blunder too. I can’t believe they came to us with such a childish negotiator.”
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“Yes, you can absolutely say that again. As Lady Tonukapoli said, he’s not the brightest star in the sky—more like the dullest. Though I can’t bring myself to dislike him.”
They weren’t a dislikable bunch. Sure, they were foolish, childish, and would likely receive failing marks in every category, but Atou thought they deserved a passing grade based solely on the fact they weren’t hostile toward Mynoghra. Elder Moltar and the other Dark Elves shared her opinion and didn’t know how to react beyond pulling a face.
“My king,” Elder Moltar diffidently addressed Takuto. “Please don’t take this as me objecting to your excellent decision, but one of the negotiators—Lord Pepe—seemed like quite the imbecile. Won’t it be risky having such a person as an allied Commander?”
Takuto and Atou had incessantly instructed the council members to raise any concerns they may have rather than stew over it in silence. Hence, no one reprimanded Elder Moltar for being rude toward the King with his frank query. Seeing as Gia, Emle, and even Atou were giving Takuto searching looks, they must’ve harbored the same doubts.
Е̊ṅ u m̌ а. і̂ ḋ
“Hmm.”
Is that really all there is to that boy? Takuto wondered.
Pepe was definitely a few cards short of a full deck. He came across as a dimwit who didn’t think things through. This was especially true of his gaffe toward the end of their negotiation. He’d allowed Mynoghra to conclude negotiations in a fairly favorable position. As a result, they were able to peacefully obtain the Dragon Vein Mine at the low cost of diverting some military resources.
On the other hand, Phon’kaven also received the best possible outcome for the situation they found themselves in. They seemed to be having a hard time dealing with the Barbarians and weren’t able to take care of Dragontan, as Takuto had suspected.
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Pepe’s gaffe led to Mynoghra dispatching troops for combined operations when they otherwise would’ve only exchanged limited military information with each other. In other words, their relationship would have remained a friendly encounter where they would’ve taken an indefinite amount of time to talk things out. If things hadn’t played out the way they did, would Phon’kaven still have had the strength to protect Dragontan…?
Come to think of it, it’s too unnatural to shout when he did… I don’t know… You’re really a dummy, Pepe.
W е b n ov̌ еl̄ Ѐ n u̇ ḿ а
But Takuto didn’t think it was all that bad to have become friends with the dimwitted boy. Given the situation in each other’s empires, they had no reason to be enemies, and unlike the time with Qualia’s Paladins, talks went without a hitch.
There might be some friction between evil and neutral civilizations, but not enough to prevent them from forming an alliance. Actually, if he looked at it objectively, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say they had obtained an unexpectedly good result.
Takuto was particularly impressed by the fact he became friends with Pepe. After all, he was originally someone who’d considered the hospital his home. He couldn’t make any friends there and thought friendship was out of reach for him.
And now he suddenly had a friend. There was no way he wouldn’t be thrilled.
I’m worried about the Barbarians, but it’d be perfect if we could continue to be friendly with Phon’kaven.
That being said, everything was still in its infancy.
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Someone once said that nations don’t have friends, only interests. Those interests evolve over time, and so past agreements must be revisited. Should the tides change, Phon’kaven, and Pepe along with it, would take measures against Mynoghra.
There’s no debate when it comes down to having to choose between an ally nation and your citizens. Takuto obviously knew which he would pick if he were put in that situation.
In any case, the present state of things was the picture of calm.
Indeed, things were as calm and peaceful as a glassy lake on a sunny day.
What Takuto wanted to happen the most had happened, albeit with just one other empire. He’d keep an eye on them, but there was no reason to hate them.
He had but one answer then…
Ё n u m̂ ā. і̃ d
“King Takuto? Do you have an opinion on the matter?” Atou asked.
“Yeah. My evaluation of Pepe is on hold for now. He’s probably…okay.”
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“Understood, my king.”
Everyone present bowed deeply in response to Takuto’s quick decision. This was the definitive decision made by the King of Ruin and Mynoghra’s Commander, Takuto Ira. His words came from the greatest depths of wisdom, and there was no room for negative feelings, let alone meaning.
Takuto nodded satisfactorily before the steely loyalty of his subordinates.
A thorough command hierarchy is what’s needed to run a healthy organization. Limbs that execute what the brain wants without error are what’s most required to move the behemoth known as an empire.
W ёb̀ n̄о v el _Ẽ n u̇ḿ а
Takuto worried that as long as emotions were involved, he would have to deal with human errors that weren’t a factor in the game, such as differences in opinion and misunderstanding instructions. Still, Mynoghra was achieving satisfactory results as his limbs. Since that was the case, he could now devise various strategies to his heart’s content.
Taking care of the Barbarian problem came first. Something was causing them to behave differently from usual. That was a strange and threatening factor.
Enemies randomly appearing out of nowhere almost sounds like what would happen in a role playin—
A humorous thought crossed his mind. Before he could finish it, he pushed it out with a wry smile.
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Talks with Phon’kaven had ended in success. Takuto and Mynoghra learned much from their first negotiation and used it as a source of encouragement and growth.
◇◇◇
Е nü m̈ а
IN the Grand Council Room built within the Palace, Takuto and his council discussed their next policies as they sat around a mountain of documents containing information on Phon’kaven and their arrangements.
“Now then, you all did a great job yesterday,” Atou said. “A lot of unexpected things happened, but we managed to establish friendly relations with Phon’kaven. This will definitely benefit our peace-loving empire, Mynoghra. Do you have anything to add, my king?”
“Yeah. Good job, everybody.”
The Dark Elves bowed their heads, looking touched to receive such words from their king. Since coming to this world, Takuto learned that small interactions were necessary to gain unswerving loyalty as a leader. He initially thought the best rewards were monetary, physical goods, or status-related, but sometimes praise and giving credit where credit was due turned out to be the best reward of all.
Everyone likes to be complimented when they are trying their hardest, and how much more poignant would that praise be if it came from their revered king?
The fact that he was the object they revered was unnerving, but Takuto gave a big nod, his mind made up to start talking to everyone more often. He hoped that would cure his fear of speaking in front of others, too.
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Seeing him nod, Emle took that as the go-ahead to move the meeting along.
“To get started, I would like to reconfirm the details of our negotiations with Phon’kaven and make any final decisions. We can break the terms of the agreement into three big categories. The first is the establishment of diplomatic relations. The second is a mutual trade agreement. The third is a defense pact agreement.”
“I see, I see. This sounds like it’ll be another fruitful meeting.” Atou happily nodded along, satisfied to see Mynoghra finally shaping up as a nation now that it had established diplomatic relations.
The Dark Elves looked much more relaxed after having overcome the critical moment with the foreign delegation.
“Why don’t we decide on our policies while we analyze each term in detail? Let’s start with diplomatic relations first. Does anyone have any opinions or concerns regarding this?”
Emle led the meeting with practiced ease. Her gaze had already shifted to the documents and notes in front of her. She pushed her glasses up as she waited with a stoic expression for someone to speak up.
Е n u mā.і d
“……”
“……”
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“……”
But silence was their response. It seemed like everyone was searching for something to say on the topic. Silence begets more silence. Everyone, including Takuto, was aware of a certain problem but was hesitant to be the one to point it out.
After all, it was a very basic and ridiculous problem to have. But letting the silence run on was a waste of time. The moment everyone was about to open their mouth to say something—
“Well, um…”
Wеbn ōv е l Ê n̆ǔ m а
Someone else beat them to it. The youngest person present, Caria, broke the silence. Seeing as her older sister had her hand raised with a grin, it appeared the twins had a question to ask.
“Do you want to ask a question? You are both as much a part of this meeting as the rest of us, so you are free to say whatever is on your mind,” Emle quickly encouraged them, and the rest of the council eagerly nodded in support.
It was the council members’ job to push through the awkward silence, and they all felt guilty for forcing that uncomfortable role onto such a young child. At the same time, they wanted to lavish her with praise for speaking up. It’d be even better if she voiced the concerns they all secretly harbored.
At the center of the pathetic adults’ attention, the youngest member pointed out the fundamental problem plaguing them all.
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“What kinda country is Phon’kaven?” Caria asked.
“I don’t know it either,” Maria added.
Е̃nũ m а
Awkwardness settled over the council room.
Maria usually said whatever came to her mind at her own pace, but they felt awful for making Caria broach the subject. Still, everyone silently applauded them for having the guts to say it.
“…That’s where we should start, huh?” Takuto muttered in a quiet yet clear enough voice for everyone to hear, earning silent nods from the room.
Indeed, this was the problem that was incredibly difficult for any of them to admit in a room full of their peers—none of them knew much about the empire called Phon’kaven.
“My, you make a fine point,” Elder Moltar said. “We certainly know little to nothing about Phon’kaven. Of course, we’ve gathered some information and already presented it to His Majesty. But what of their current situation? It’s only logical that it’s impossible to hammer out the details of our arrangement without understanding the other nation. Before we do anything else, we must first take a closer look at their empire.”
Elder Moltar’s comments stoked the meeting’s fire. Now that they’d openly acknowledged the embarrassing truth, they could finally start the meeting in true.
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“I couldn’t be more ashamed,” Elder Moltar lamented. “We Dark Elves were so blinded by our joy of this celebratory arrangement that we neglected to exercise due diligence.”
Elder Moltar, Gia, and Emle all bowed their heads in shame. Takuto awkwardly looked away, since he hadn’t realized this critical point either, and held up his hand to signal them to raise their heads.
“It’s fine. I failed to notice too.”
“I-I agree… These things happen,” Atou said. “No one is to blame. We should actually be glad we realized our ignorance sooner rather than later.”
“You humble us with your words…”
The Dark Elves closed their eyes to bask in Takuto and Atou’s lenience and bowed their heads once again. The truth was that Takuto and Atou were guilty of the same negligence, so they just wanted to move on without dwelling on it.
Е n u m̂ а. i d́
“I-In the game, everything from another empire’s tradable Luxury Items to their Happiness Levels can be found in the Diplomacy Panel, so I didn’t take the rest into consideration…” Takuto communicated telepathically to Atou.
“The game doesn’t depict the true state of affairs or the nitty-gritty details of an empire, after all. It escaped our notice…” she responded.
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If there was one leading cause for this problem, it was simply everyone’s inexperience dealing with such matters. For Atou and Takuto, it was the small things about this world that completely differed from the game that threw them off. For the Dark Elves, it was their blind faith in their king and the flood of sudden events taking them for a ride that had narrowed their focus, blinding them to other factors.
Their inexperience in dealing with other empires may have led them to overlook some things, but it wasn’t a fatal oversight. If anything, it was an invaluable experience to become aware of any miscalculations they might make at this stage in the game.
Strangely enough, everyone seemed to be of the same mind on the matter and decided to apply themselves to solving the problem at hand.
“In that case, it’s necessary for us to investigate Phon’kaven first. But we don’t have much time with the defense pact agreement in place and the need to offer Dragontan assistance…” Emle trailed off.
Ẽ nú m ӓ
“Then we’d better gather intel on them at the same time we are deciding what troops to send to their aid,” Atou finished for her.
“I agree, Atou. On the other hand, I think we can safely set aside matters regarding trade for the time being,” Emle suggested. “It will be difficult to transport goods if the Barbarian attacks happen as frequently as they said.”
“No one’s lives are riding on trade, after all. Dragontan may be in trouble if they have low Food supplies, but we need to investigate them first to know such things…”
In the end, they decided visiting Dragontan once to gather information on their new allies would net them the best results.
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Information gathering is not just about sending in spies and bringing back classified documents from off-limit zones. A lot can be learned simply by looking around a town in the open like a normal resident or visitor. Publicly accessible information is sometimes of paramount importance, as evidenced by the significant restrictions placed on journalists’ activities in closed military nations.
And considering the state of things between Phon’kaven and Mynoghra, going in person to confirm things with their own eyes was the safest and most efficient method.
Wé b n ǒ ṽеl Ӗ ṅü.m̈ а
“Hmm. How about sending a delegation?” Gia suggested before anyone else.
Mynoghra had originally intended to send a delegation to Dragontan. Gia figured they could immediately dispatch the delegation if they stuck with their initial plan and unit formation. Of course, that would require their representative, Atou, to go, but he didn’t think she would refuse.
“I have some concerns regarding that plan…”
But someone raised an objection to his proposal—his former adjutant, Emle.
A proper meeting consists of the exchange of multiple ideas before making the final decision. Understanding that well, Gia didn’t feel offended by his former subordinate keeping her eyes trained on her documents rather than looking at him when she objected. He patiently waited for her reasoning.
“During our talks with Phon’kaven, we learned about the unusual situation afflicting their entire nation, including their capital, in the form of a huge surge of Barbarian attacks. We still need to confirm if it’s true, but I don’t think it’s wise for us to leave our own capital with less of a military presence.”
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“You mean we need to leave enough men behind to protect the King should the unexpected occur?” Gia surmised.
The information gathered from their talks with Phon’kaven was of vital importance to Mynoghra as well. Whether it’d become good or bad news for them was yet to be seen. This particular information fell into the latter category.
Phon’kaven, an empire that had established itself in this region long ago, was being assailed by an anomaly unlike anything they had ever experienced before. That fact alone was more than enough information to merit raising their alertness level.
King Takuto Ira and the Hero Atou were the mainstays of Mynoghra, followed by the Imperial Capital where they resided. They’d never recover if they fell under attack while there was a hole in their defenses.
Emle made an incredibly valid point.
In that case, should they just send someone random to look around?
Ẃе́ b̀ n̆о́ v̊ еl̀ Е n û m а́
No, that presented a different problem.
The people picked by the empire-management council for this particular recon mission would be dispatched with King Takuto Ira’s approval. They needed to send someone who’d show respect to their ally and wouldn’t cause friction.
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Dragontan would be confused if someone from another country suddenly showed up saying they wanted to check out their town. Their alliance was barely a day old. They needed to select someone who could be trusted to maintain a good relationship with the town of Dragontan should they run into any unforeseen trouble. But such people were critical to Mynoghra’s safety, which brought them back to square one.
“But I want to check out their town.”
A lack of information during war times is usually paid for with a loss of soldiers. While they had some information, from a defense point of view, Takuto wanted to avoid dispatching soldiers for combined operations until he understood what he was sending them into.
I want to survey the area through shared vision with one of our citizens at least once… Takuto thought.
Е̂ñ uṁа̄
Forming a delegation was a no-go. Even so, if they were going out of their way to visit the town, they needed to keep up appearances with a certain number of people. They were short on time, so it didn’t need to be anything too grand; they just needed a pretense to send a few people who wouldn’t offend their ally.
What were their options?
Everyone thought about it at length, their brows furrowed.
The deadlock was once again broken by one of the twins.
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“Let’s go play!”
Maria had stopped gazing absently out the window to raise her hand and speak her thoughts.
W ӗ bn̊ о̃_v e l Е̇ nũm а
Did the girl grow bored of the meeting? No one could scold her too harshly when they knew about her broken mind, and when Emle, the best person at looking after others, tried to think of a way to address her, Caria tapped her older sister on the shoulder and mildly reproved her.
“Big Sista, we’re in the middle of a meeting, we can go play later— Aah, is that what you mean?”
“Oh? Do you girls have something in mind?”
Apparently, the girl wanting to go play was meant as something more than it had sounded to the adults.
A little disconcerted with the girl who occasionally said things that didn’t make sense, Emle looked to her younger sister to put it into words she could understand.
“Big Sista is suggesting we send people who are currently free to go under the pretext of sightseeing,” Caria said, interpreting what her sister meant. “Um…didn’t Master Pepe say we could come play anytime we want, Your Majesty?”
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“Yeah. Pepe said we could come over to play.”
“Then I don’t think they’ll get angry if we go there to play.”
At that suggestion, Emle quickly shifted through the documents in front of her. She definitely remembered that exchange occurring between Takuto and Pepe during the negotiations. Most of what they’d said to each other was small talk and lip service, but Pepe did indeed make them that offer. He didn’t stop there either, he even extended his invitation to everyone present, saying, “You are all welcome to come anytime!”
“I see… How about we go with that angle, Emle?”
Emle gave a big nod in response to Atou’s question. This was the key to unlocking the solution they needed.
“Yes, I think it makes perfect sense for us to send several people ahead of time to greet the mayor and establish contact. Creating an open channel of communication with their mayor in advance should be received favorably on their end as well. It also wouldn’t look bad to only send a few people for this purpose. Furthermore, we can keep up appearances because of Master Pepe’s open invitation.”
Ӗ n ŭ m̈ ā
They finally had the pretense they needed. The plan also had Emle’s endorsement, which was big, as she was an avid reader and possessed an understanding of the etiquette that must be maintained between empires. All that was left was to consider who they should actually send to greet the mayor.
Did they really have to jump through so many hoops just to check out a town?
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Takuto, who was forced to face the things not depicted in the game, was steadily learning the elements necessary for empire management, although he found them a little tiring.
“Who should we send then? The mission will likely span two to three days, so I think it’s all right to actually make sightseeing a piece of what you’re doing,” Atou said.
“May I go then?” Elder Moltar inquired, raising his hand. “I’m sure there will be a meeting with the mayor, and I don’t mean to sound presumptuous, but I believe I am the right man for the job.”
Certainly, a man as wise as he fit the requirements, and he was not currently in charge of any crucial projects he couldn’t allocate to someone else for that period of time. Just as everyone was about to recommend him to Takuto—
Wе̌b̄ ǹ o̊ v̀е̂ l̀ Е n̆ŭ m̆ á
“Not a good idea.”
The King himself shot down the idea.
“Forgive me for overstepping my bounds, my king.”
“I thought he’d be perfect for the job, too. Is there a reason why you object, King Takuto?” Atou asked on behalf of everyone present who was taken off guard by his objection.
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Obviously, he wasn’t bullying Elder Moltar or found him lacking in anything. In which case, there must’ve been some strategic factor the rest of them hadn’t realized. They wanted to confirm what that was.
“Moltar is too important.”
W ebǹ.ō v̊ ẽ l̀ Е̄ n̂_u m à_
Several of the council members tilted their heads in confusion at Takuto’s reasoning. Even Elder Moltar was staring into space, stroking his beard as he contemplated his king’s words. Strangely enough, it was Warrior Captain Gia who figured out what Takuto meant first.
“I see, this old goat is certainly just a wise old man to us, but from the perspective of other countries, he is Mynoghra’s Chancellor and the Minister of Magic. He’s too much of a big shot to send to greet a town mayor.”
“Grr,” Elder Moltar grunted. “You always ruin a fine comment with one word too many, Gia. But you are right, sonny. I continue to be amazed by His Highness’s astuteness. Going by that same logic, Gia is our General, and Emle is Minister of Domestic Affairs. Both serve in too high of a position for this role.”
Everyone was finally on the same page with Gia and Elder Moltar’s explanations.
Yes, Mynoghra was still an empire even if it only had a select few elites at this point. And Takuto had shown his empire’s prestige to its fullest during the negotiations with Phon’kaven. Then it was only natural for their ally to view the people who served at the top of his empire as important figures.
“What about me?”
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“You are His Majesty’s closest, most trusted attendant, Lady Atou. As our great Hero, you are the last person who should go.”
“Well, when you put it like that! I am King Takuto’s confidant!”
Atou had only asked to have her position confirmed since no one brought up her name. She was satisfied with their response but also annoyed that it proved she couldn’t be of any use to her king for this task.
Mynoghra was in an awkward position when it came to government officials. If Elder Moltar and the rest of the council fell under the Minister class, then they were entirely lacking any vice-ministers and down. While they were indeed suffering from a lack of talented people to choose from, this also served as a testament to Elder Moltar and the council members being so skilled the rest of the Dark Elves couldn’t live up to what Takuto and Atou had come to expect.
Who should they pick then?
Everyone looked around the Grand Council Room searching for the right person for the job—all eyes landed squarely on the same spot.
Ӗnum̌а
“Me, me!”
“U-Um, well…Big Sista and I will go.”
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“Ugh,” someone groaned.
It was true that everyone’s gaze went to the twin girls. But they all also wondered if they were really the right choice.
“I’ll do my best.”
“I will do my bestest!”
È nù m̌а. іd
The twins were all for it. Of all the Dark Elf children, these two girls were especially loyal to Takuto and Mynoghra. It was no wonder that the two of them, who were always trying to repay Takuto, would be eager to take on this important mission.
But…
“Wouldn’t that be too dangerous?”
That was Takuto’s biggest concern. He already viewed the girls like family. Their young age only further added to his apprehension.
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“It is dangerous for them, but I also feel that their position is conversely too low for this role. Besides that, they are such young children, it’s bound to make Dragontan’s mayor uncomfortable…”
As a fellow member of the “Pamper and Protect the Twins” Faction, Emle spoke in support of Takuto’s concerns.
Ӗǹ ǔḿ а̇ . і̀d
“No, they are perfect for the job.”
But as a member of the “Let Cute Little Girls Go on Trips” Faction, Elder Moltar had a different point of view.
“Um, why might that be?”
“They have both been selected to be trained and raised up as future leaders of Mynoghra by the King. We have already explained this to Phon’kaven during our talks,” Elder Moltar argued. “That gives them the perfect status for the job. And, if anything, their town should be more welcoming of children who don’t have ulterior political motives.”
“Ugh…that’s a sound point.”
This mission hinged on two things: their visit shouldn’t be made into a big deal, and they mustn’t be rude to their hosts. Oddly enough, the twins were just right for the job in that regard. As children, Dragontan wouldn’t be expected to go all-out to welcome them. At the same time, their position as future leader candidates under the direct tutelage of the King cemented their status in a way that wouldn’t offend the other nation.
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On the contrary, it’d be a tall order to ask them to find someone better suited than the girls.
“The fact they don’t have any actual authority should be viewed more favorably,” Elder Moltar continued. “The mayor won’t have to go out of their way to kowtow to their every need, at the same time knowing we aren’t disrespecting them with our choice of a representative.”
Emle really didn’t want to put the twins in danger, but she also couldn’t argue with that logic, so she grudgingly fell silent.
“I see, I see. Sounds like a fine plan to me. I had already determined they would be the best option but refrained from saying anything to measure your ability to come to the same conclusion. You did a truly marvelous job!!”
“But isn’t it still too dangerous for them?”
Takuto once again expressed his concerns, lightly dispelling Atou’s obvious attempts at hiding the fact she hadn’t kept up with the conversation at all.
Е́n ū m̊ а
Phon’kaven may be an ally nation, but it was still outside Mynoghra. He would have them escorted by a guard detail, but what would he do if something happened to the two young girls after he sent them away?
Takuto could sense the approximate location of his units—or in this case, citizens who belonged to his empire—but it’d still take too long to act if they came under attack. Even if he noticed their duress from Mynoghra, Dragontan was too far away to quickly rescue them, leaving their safety in the hands of the guard detail.
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That was a gamble he wasn’t sure he wanted to take.
Takuto was overprotective of the twins.
And Atou was overprotective of Takuto.
Noticing the turmoil on her king’s face, Atou slammed her hand on the table and angrily rose to her feet as if this was her time to come to his aid.
Ё n u m̆ȧ
“His Majesty is worried! It’s too soon to send the girls as an envoy! What if they get kidnapped?!” Atou complained like a child throwing a temper tantrum. But the Dark Elves had witnessed her tantrums plenty of times before, so they weren’t startled by it. “Aaaaah! It’s too terrifying to even think about! This strategy is out! Out, I say!”
Just as Atou said, if Takuto opposed, the plans they had just discussed would be discarded. Takuto had the final say in everything. Atou’s complaints aside, if he had concerns, there weren’t many ways to change his mind and overturn his decision.
However, one of those ways was sitting next to him at the table.
“Your Majesty, it’s something that mustest be done eventually. Besides, you are the one who told us we are free to do what we want. Being useful to you is what we sisters want to do with our freedom. Please allow it,” Caria earnestly implored.
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Takuto was incredibly protective of the twins, and he also had a soft spot when it came to their requests. The stubbornness he’d been showing instantly crumbled away at the girl’s sincere request.
“But…if anything happens—”
W̃е̇b̃ ǹ о̄v̄ẽl̀ Е n üṁ а̂
“We are prepared for that.”
“Nggghhhh,” Takuto groaned, arms folded at his chest.
All decisions were left to the King’s discretion. And Takuto, the King, was at an impasse.
Atou could only watch over him as he worked through it.
And Takuto was assailed by the most devilish technique devised to overturn the situation.
“Your Majesty, pretty please.”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“Awawawa.”
Maria quietly moved out of her chair to stand beside Takuto. She took his arm in her hands as she gazed up at him with precious puppy-dog eyes.
“Please let us do it, Your Majesty.”
“U-Uggghhh…”
He was struck by the same attack by the younger sister on his opposite side. The twins wore down his defenses with a pincher pleading attack.
“Pretty, pretty please,” they said in unison.
W̌e̊b n̈ оv_e l̆. Е̊ ňú m а
Was it just his imagination that their voices sounded so sweet?
Either way, their attack did him in. Takuto sucked in a huge breath and exhaled before Atou could intercede.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“Okay,” he said with a gentle smile.
“Yay!” the girls cheered.
He was easily defeated by their dual assault.
“Our king has succumbed to wheedling!! Oh, the horror!” Atou cried out
W е̌ bnо̌v̀ е l̄ Еń u m a
Takuto looked away, wishing she wouldn’t proclaim such things in a loud voice. He was aware that he did indeed fall for their wheedling, which made Atou’s observation all the more painful. Nonetheless, he permitted it. With his mindset changed, Takuto vowed to help the girls fulfill their duties as they’d requested.
“But, Your Majesty, what will we do about their escort?” Emle asked, worried. “I doubt anyone will kidnap them, but we can’t just send them alone…”
She made a valid point. However, Takuto already had a solution for keeping them safe. He happened to know of excellent pawns that could serve as their guardians and escort.
“I have something just for that,” Takuto declared in a calm voice to reassure Emle.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Mynoghra couldn’t afford to let anyone idle around.
Takuto was just thinking about what job he could assign to these pawns, so this worked out perfectly.
Ӗ nüm а
◇◇◇
“OH, come on, Atou. I didn’t give in just because little girls begged me to. I wanted to respect their initiative, and it’s true that they are suited for this kind of scout mission. It’s not a bad plan as long as we send people along to support them as our representatives,” Takuto rattled off like he was making excuses, which he actually was. He hadn’t spoken like this in quite a while.
The reason goes without saying—he was trying to improve Atou’s mood after she was completely bent out of shape from him spoiling the twins.
“Ha! Say what you will! I’m still not convinced!”
Atou’s reasonable side understood that there weren’t any real problems with his decision. She also understood the twins’ desire to be useful to Takuto as his devoted vassals. But just because the logical side of her mind could be convinced didn’t mean her emotional side was.
Atou’s petulance was entirely caused by the fact Takuto had let another girl win him over and have her way with him. She wasn’t letting it slide simply because her feelings as a girl in love wouldn’t stand for it.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“It’s not His Majesty’s fault, Lady Atou. It’s because we were being selfish.”
Sensing the awkwardness between them, Caria tried desperately to aid Takuto in improving Atou’s mood.
“Hmph! Go ahead and form a harem of little girls, King Takuto! Hero Atou will step down from her pedestal!”
But her attempt only made things worse. Atou’s mood only grew more foul.
“Awawawa…”
Thus, the King of Ruin only grew more pitiful.
Е̇ ňum а
If there was a “Dependability” stat in this world, Takuto would currently have exactly 0 points in it. His flustered, overwrought behavior lacked all dignity, leaving just a cowed boy in its place.
“Your Majesty…”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“Hm?”
Someone beckoned him closer—it was the older sister, Maria. Curious about what she wanted, he moved closer, and she whispered a certain strategy into his ear. He nodded throughout her explanation, giving the biggest nod of all at the end. Mind made up, he marched over to Atou, who was still steaming mad.
“Atou…”
“Wh-What is it?” Atou faltered before his commanding aura. She thought she was in for a scolding for acting so irritable. But contrary to appearances, Takuto offered her words of unbelievable kindness.
Е̄n úma. і̂ d̄.
“Thank you for thinking about me.”
“What?!” she squeaked. “Um…”
It was too abrupt for her to temper her reaction.
Takuto lifted her hand in his and soothed her with his suave words. “I have only made it this far because you were with me from the beginning. I really regret making you, of all people, angry.”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Atou bobbed her head up and down so hard, he feared she might snap her neck. She was wide-eyed with apprehension over the sudden shift in Takuto’s behavior.
“I need you. Won’t you please cheer up, Atou?”
Ŵëḃ.ñ о v̊.е̇ l̀ Ѐ ṅu m a
Takuto conveyed what he wanted to say to her most all while wondering whether wording it this way was really okay. In other words, he wanted to apologize and express his gratitude for her. And it seemed to be getting through to her just fine.
“You’re the only one for me, Atou.”
“Y-Yes, King Takuto…”
Actually, it seemed like he’d conveyed a little too much. Atou’s face turned crimson so fast, he almost expected to hear it accompanied by a sound effect. Her delight was tangible, seeing as the redness traveled all the way to the exposed parts of her chest.
You are better off saying what you really think rather than trying to play it off—that was the advice Maria had whispered to him. Takuto followed her advice to a T and laid his feelings bare, but it appeared to be a little too stimulating.
“Uh, Atou?”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
“Ufufu! Whatever is on your mind, my precious King Takuto?”
Atou was giving off an aura that screamed “I’m so happy!” She entered her own world with her hands pressed against both cheeks, making it seem as if they were the only ones enjoying a peaceful spring afternoon.
“Ah, er, well, I was just wondering if you’ve forgiven me…”
“For what? I could never be angry at my King Takuto. You’re so silly.”
“I-I see! Glad to hear it!”
Atou was easy to appease. When it came to Takuto, she was a forgiving woman who could let bygones be bygones if he treated her with a little kindness. She was the type who’d end up horribly dumped after the guy she fell head over heels for was done playing with her. Of course, the more intense the emotion one has, the worse of a fall out there will be, so any guy who tried that with her was bound to lose his head.
Еn um̌а̇
However, Takuto didn’t have to worry about that.
Women who put their whole hearts into a relationship only do well with sincere and faithful men. Not to mention the fact Atou was a creature of Mynoghra. So anyone who dared to play with her would suffer immeasurably.
Baca cerita ini hanya di situs resmi Enuma.id!
In the end, Takuto narrowly escaped certain death by following Maria’s sound advice.
Takuto was just glad that he had succeeded in repairing her mood, none the wiser that she was currently enjoying delusions of newlywed life with him. It was the way of the world for there always to be an eventual price paid for having insinuated things with a woman and playing with her heart, but it was up in the air whether it was fortunate or unfortunate not to be paying that price now…
It was truly a case of “Only God knows.”
“King Takuto, who are you planning to send with them as an escort? Honestly, I don’t think any of the Dark Elves are fit for the job…”
Ẃ ẽb n̊ о́ v̂ ӗ l̈ Ën̄ úṁa
Apparently, Atou had played out her delusions in full. She shifted the topic to who would be joining the twins on the mission. It appeared Atou was as clueless about his pick as the Dark Elves. Feeling a little giddy about that, Takuto turned toward her and held up a finger.
“I’m actually planning on sending the units we spawned the other day.”
“…Y-You can’t mean them, can you?”
“Yes, them.”
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Takuto grinned with a look that said “How do you like them apples?”
At first, Atou was surprised by his crazy proposal, but after a while, she realized the merits of his choice and was impressed by his keen insight.
Е́ n ùma_
But not even Takuto, the King who would bring ruin to the world, could have predicted the chaos awaiting him.
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